Newsletters are often the last thing on the minds of small business owners, as most of them often believe that it is an expensive and ineffective marketing strategy. However, what many do not know is that they can be very effective marketing collaterals that can increase your chances of getting potential customers and keeping existing ones.

Why Newsletters?

When customers do business with you, but you have no way of following them up, you are virtually putting them back on the field, back to the clutches of your competitors. What if a previous client liked your service but eventually lost your contact information? What if a previous client forgot the name of your small business brand?

In cases like these, newsletters become effective tools because they allow you to maintain contact with some of your most valuable contacts – your existing and previous customers. They will remind that your business still exists, and that you can easily be reached. Likewise, they also serve in informing clients about new products and services.

Unlike status updates, tweets or pins on social networks that can easily be lost on most people’s newsfeeds, newsletters are always there, providing unlimited visibility for your brand.

How Often?

How often you decide to send newsletters will ultimately depend on several factors. These include the products that you are selling, what valuable information you can give them, and how often subscribers need to hear from you.

Some businesses send email newsletters every day. Those who choose the conventional and printed newsletters, on the other hand, distribute less often. For traditional newsletters, the rule of thumb is at least every one to three months.

What Should Be My Content?

One thing that also serves as a factor for your schedule of distribution is your content. Do you have new information to introduce to your client? Can you point out informative content related to your services or products? Readers love new information, so it is important that your newsletter contains some informative value. Give out tips, or lists or recipes related to your company. You do not need to distribute a very long newsletter – even a page or two can work for most businesses.

No matter how small your business may be, it can greatly benefit from newsletters. So go ahead, start writing one and see the big difference they can make on your business.